Last Waco visit still grinds on Aggies

COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M and Baylor both have come a long way since Nov. 15, 2008 – but it’s a date that still irks Aggies.

Baylor 41, A&M 21 – and it wasn’t that close.

Mike Sherman and Art Briles both were in their first seasons, and Briles’ bunch certainly got the best of the Aggies that night – giving the camp that wanted Briles over Sherman at A&M plenty of ammunition in the following week.

The Aggies exacted some revenge last season with a 38-3 victory at Kyle Field, but plenty of now-veteran players remember that night in Waco almost two years ago to the day – and are looking forward to the return trip this Saturday.

The Bears (7-3, 4-2) play host to the Aggies (6-3, 3-2) at 6 p.m. For those not able to make Floyd Casey Stadium – and the joint usually has plenty of both green and maroon in the stands – Fox Sports Net will air the 107th Battle of the Brazos.

Two years ago, Briles was smiling as wide as the Brazos following the 20-point blowout, one in which the Bears led 41-7 after three quarters.

“This gives us some credibility as a football program,” Briles said at the time. “If they’ve got ‘Texas’ in their name, we’ve got to beat them. That’s not going to change – it will be the same in the year 2020.”

Senior linebacker Von Miller recalled one play against quarterback Robert Griffin two years ago that stands out.

“I like to think I’m fast myself,” Miller said. “But I remember one play he was running an option, and I had an angle and I knew I was going to get him. I was running to him, and right when I was closing he hit another gear and took off on us. I had never felt that kind of speed before.”

In 2008, the Aggies were coming off a 66-28 home loss to Oklahoma. Last Saturday, they defeated the Sooners 33-19 at Kyle Field, and are field-goal favorites over the Bears, who are bowl eligible for the first time since 1995.

“They have a great trigger guy (in Griffin), a really good running back (Jay Finley) and tremendous speed vertically,” A&M defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. “It’s one of those spread offense where you better defend everything, and still be ready for trick plays and option stuff.

“It’s great coming off a game like OU, but our guys know they’d better be ready for Saturday.”